Famous singer from Azerbaijan Muslim Magomaev dies in Moscow

In Moscow at night on October 25, People's Artist of the USSR Muslim Magomaev, an outstanding singer from Azerbaijan and master of Soviet variety art died in his 67th year from a sudden heart arrest.

In recent months he was often hospitalized with cardiac pains. Treatment helped him, and Magomaev returned home, always giving optimistic interviews that his health was all OK.

The information about the death of the well-known singer and artist was reported to the Trend Agency by Oleg Amirbekov, Magomaev's official representative in Baku. The "Interfax" reports that Muslim Magomaev's death was also confirmed by Moscow Government. Nothing is known so far about the date of the funeral of the legendary singer.

Muslim Magomaev was born on August 17, 1942, in the city of Baku. His concert repertoire counts over 600 songs (Russian romances, classical, variety and Neapolitan songs). Mr Magomaev was the author of more than 20 songs; he wrote music to movies. He was also the author and master of the cycle of TV programmes about the life and creative work of American singer Mario Lanza and wrote a book about him. The "Rossiya" TV Channel adds that in 1997 one of minor planets of the Solar system, known to astronomers under the code of 1974 SP1, was named 4980 Magomaev.

In August 2007, while congratulating the artist on his 65th birthday, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev said that the country was proud of him.